Key facts
- Romania shot down a third suspected Russian drone over its territorial waters near the Ukraine border.
- The drone was identified as a Shahed-type UAV, used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
- Romanian F-16 fighter jets intercepted and downed the drone.
- President Nicușor Dan condemned the airspace violations as 'inadmissible and intolerable.'
- Romania summoned the Russian ambassador in response to the incursion.
Romania's military shot down a third suspected Russian drone over its territorial waters near the Ukraine border on Sunday, marking the third such incursion in three days. The drone was intercepted by a Romanian F-16 fighter jet approximately 12 kilometers northeast of Sulina, five minutes after entering the country's airspace.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan condemned the repeated airspace violations as 'inadmissible and intolerable,' stating that such actions are unacceptable and are being treated with utmost seriousness alongside allies. He added that authorities identified one of the earlier intercepted drones as a Shahed-type UAV, used by the Russian Federation in its war against Ukraine.
In response to the incursions, Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador. Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesperson for NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), noted this was the fourth recent downing by Romania of a drone violating NATO airspace in coordination with the alliance, and that Romanian pilots and planes are based in Lithuania as part of NATO’s force posture.
Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that Belgium stands firmly with Romania, noting that 300 Belgian troops are based in Romania as part of NATO’s eastern flank force. The drone incursions highlight the ongoing threat Russia's war poses to European security.